Does a tool exist to help remove PCIe cards?
November 16, 2020 2:50 PM Subscribe
Trying to pull the graphics card out of a PC I purchased to replace it with a marginally better one. Reaching under the card to pop the clip on one side is difficult due to position and fat fingers: the other side is currently inaccessible due to fan // heatsink placement giving no clearance. Is there a tool to help with this or do I need to start removing fans?
Best answer: IME it's time to start getting other peripherals out of the way. I've broken one of these clips off before by forcing it, so . . . don't do that. Nowadays I usually use a heavy guitar pick on the clip if I need leverage.
posted by aspersioncast at 4:47 PM on November 16, 2020
posted by aspersioncast at 4:47 PM on November 16, 2020
Best answer: (The lever/ clip usually isn't super hard to pop - double check that the screw/ retainer clip fixing the card in place has been removed; I just changed out a card and was flummoxed as to why it wouldn't gracefully pop out like they usually do. Duh. Removed the screw and the lever popped the card up with a gentle touch.)
But yeah, if there are other cards in the way, take those out first. Kind of like how modern cars are put together so efficiently that getting to certain parts are a PITA and that's why servicing parts that don't strictly need it are a thing - might as well take care of it since it's exposed anyway (after an hour+ of labour to expose a different part).
posted by porpoise at 5:16 PM on November 16, 2020
But yeah, if there are other cards in the way, take those out first. Kind of like how modern cars are put together so efficiently that getting to certain parts are a PITA and that's why servicing parts that don't strictly need it are a thing - might as well take care of it since it's exposed anyway (after an hour+ of labour to expose a different part).
posted by porpoise at 5:16 PM on November 16, 2020
Best answer: The best all purpose doohickey I've come across is... wood skewers for kebab like things. There are thin ones and thicker ones. One end is pointed the other is flat. They're just perfect slim strong wood sticks that solve so many different things. I don't think that I've ever skewered any sort of food, but I've used dozens of them for many a varied things.
Otherwise, yeah, just start taking thing apart until you can reach the thingy.
posted by zengargoyle at 8:01 PM on November 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
Otherwise, yeah, just start taking thing apart until you can reach the thingy.
posted by zengargoyle at 8:01 PM on November 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
wood skewers for kebab like things
Super-sized bamboo "toothpicks"/ hors d'oeuvre skewers? For sure. "Disposable" bamboo chopsticks, too.
Oh, skewers - yeah, those would be great and about 1/5th the cross-section of a chopstick.
posted by porpoise at 9:53 PM on November 16, 2020
Super-sized bamboo "toothpicks"/ hors d'oeuvre skewers? For sure. "Disposable" bamboo chopsticks, too.
Oh, skewers - yeah, those would be great and about 1/5th the cross-section of a chopstick.
posted by porpoise at 9:53 PM on November 16, 2020
Best answer: Sometimes you just have to take it apart. Working on cars and computers always takes longer than you expect.
posted by Standard Orange at 1:42 AM on November 17, 2020
posted by Standard Orange at 1:42 AM on November 17, 2020
Response by poster: After trying skewers, taking the damn thing apart turned out to be the better solution. Thanks all!
posted by isauteikisa at 12:16 PM on March 2, 2021
posted by isauteikisa at 12:16 PM on March 2, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
- flathead screwdriver
- plastic knife, broken in half
- my roommate's slimmer fingers
posted by isauteikisa at 2:53 PM on November 16, 2020